Taking a cue from her former high school and now collegiate teammate Dana Stockdale, who won the Rookie of the Year award this past fall during cross country, freshman Ines Antensteiner of Lewisburg HS followed suit by earning the same award at this year's MAC Indoor Track & Field Championships. Ines had a spectacular first conference championship for the Flying Dutchmen, picking up gold medals in the 200 meter dash, 4x200 meter relay, & 4x400 relay as well as a 5th place finish in the 60 meter dash.

Describe the meet. What were your expectations going into it and how did they line up with the results?

Going into MACs, I was hoping to achieve my seed place or better in
each race. Our team talked through the expectations and the potential
that we have this year, so I tried to prepare to achieve those goals.
The results lined up great in everything but the 60 M, but I had other
races to worry about and Jojo and Fitti took care of those points!

What made you come to Lebanon Valley College? Where did you come from and how did you hear about our institution?

I got letters from LVC, talking about soccer and track. I was
interested because it had a PT program, and I knew I wanted that major.
When I came to visit campus, I got that cheesy "at home" feeling, and I
was set!

Since rising to the top of the freshman class in the
MAC, what are some of your long term goals in track? Where do you see
yourself and the team in the next couple of years?

I just want to
run the best times I can for my team, and hope that we can all achieve
more MAC titles and do well in ECACs and outdoor every year. Hopefully
we will just keep getting better and better!

Coming from high
school with some great times, how do you feel you have adjusted to
running in college and what do you find to be the major differences?

I have never run indoor track, so that was the major difference
between the two. I feel I have adjusted well because the team accepted
me and made me feel like I belonged. Team bonding is most important to
me and I feel that for that reason I can run my best times for them,
not just for myself.

What is your favorite part about being a member of the LVC track & field program?

Being with the team, having fun, and cheering each other on to get better and better is my favorite part.

What is your favorite type of workout? Is there any one particular
workout that you can remember that was challenging but made you a better
runner or it?

I like being challenged in workouts, so my favorite
ones are usually longer and fast and hurt more! (don't tell Coach Weidler I
said that!) I remember a workout that included a few 200s and a 300 that
killed me. I'm sure workouts like that make me a better runner because
I have to battle through fatigue at track meets as well.

What hobbies, sports, or other leisure time activities do you enjoy most?

I play soccer in the fall, which I love. I also like spending time
with my roomies and friends around campus, love to dance, and I like art
as well!

Freshman Dana Stockdale was named the 2011 Rookie of the Year at the MAC Championships on October 29th with her 14th place, 2nd Team All-MAC finish. She has consistently been one of LVC's top three finishers in each of her races this fall and becomes the first female at LVC to earn this award since Heather Rishel's 4th place finish in 2003. Dana hails from Lewisburg High School where she competed in both cross country and track & field.

Describe the race. What were your expectations going into it and how did they line up with the results?

The race was probably one of the most interesting experiences that I have ever had. How many people get the opportunity to run in the middle of a snow storm? Because of this, the race was tough, but the snow added some new challenges like trying not to slip for example. My expectations going into the race was to do my absolute best and win the rookie of the year award, and thankfully they lined up with the results.

What made you come to Lebanon Valley College? Where did you come from and how did you hear about our institution?

The reason I made the choice to come to Lebanon Valley College was because the minute I arrived on the campus, it immediately felt like home. All of the staff and students were extremely informative and friendly. I knew that I would have a good time here while maintaining good grades as my number one priority. I came from Lewisburg, Pennsylvania and my parents were the ones who had heard about LVC. When I looked into it, I realized that Kristin Shoop, who went to high school in the town right next to mine, was also at LVC and I talked to her about LVC as well.

Since rising to the top of the freshman class in the MAC, what are some of your long term goals in both cross country and track? Where do you see yourself and the team in the next couple of years?

My goals for both cross country and track are to always do my best and continuously improve if possible. In the next couple years, I see myself working hard along with the team and all of us making it as far as we can into the season in terms of qualifying for things. I would absolutely love to go to nationals at some point.

Coming from high school with some great times, how do you feel you have adjusted to running in college and what do you find to be the major differences?

Adjusting to running in college was tough at first. You have to be willing to work hard and continuously push yourself day after day. The results were definitely worth it. The major differences that I have felt between high school and college are that I have more self motivation to continuously improve and I feel less pressure from my team and more pressure from myself to do well.

What is your favorite part about being a member of the LVC cross country program?

My absolute favorite part about being a member of the LVC cross country program is meeting and becoming friends with the team. These guys and especially girls have become some of my best friends and I admire all of them greatly. I wouldn't be where I am without all of the support from them and my coach.

What is your favorite type of workout? Is there any one particular workout that you can remember that was challenging but made you a better runner or it?

This may sounds ridiculous, but my favorite type of workout is one that really pushes me to my limits. One particular workout that I remember that challenged me the most was our two mile-one mile work out where we run two miles as as we can, take a ten minute break, then run one mile as fast as we can after that. It was challenging and was extremely tiring, but I know I benefited from it which brought me to appreciate it eventually.

What hobbies, sports, or other leisure time activities do you enjoy most?

In between school work and cross country I am a life guard at the pools at LVC. I also really enjoy skiing, spending time with my friends, and watching ice hockey. One of my strangest hobbies is that I really enjoy is Juggling. My dad taught me when I was little and I did it in a spring musical production when I was a junior in high school.

Anything else we should know?

I just want to thank my coach, team, parents, and friends for constantly supporting me. Coach O'Brien is a really great coach who has pushed me all season to bring out my true potential. Him and the team have been so welcoming and supportive of me and I can't thank them enough. Also, thanks to my parents for always keeping my head up and coming to as many races as possible, I love you guys!

Last fall, Cynthia Adams arrived at LVC’s campus much like any other freshman student-athlete.Leaving home for the first time and adjusting to a new environment and the rigors of collegiate athletics is an experience shared by thousands of freshman across the nation.What sets Cynthia Adams apart is that she had signed up for a sport she had never done before.

Cynthia was a three sport athlete in high school; competing in soccer, basketball and outdoor track at Southern Columbia HS.While she excelled at all three, she was a three time medalist at the PIAA State Meet in the 800 meter run, recording a high school best time of 2:16 as a sophomore. On deciding to try a new sport, Cynthia recalled that “last year when I came into the XC program I was very unsure of what to expect but everyone told me college was the time to try new things and this was my chance.”

Megan Long 10’, a two-time 1st Team All-MAC runner, similarly came to LVC with no cross country experience and excelled immediately.Long was also an 800 and 1500 meter specialist on the track.“Megan helped to ease my fears by giving me encouragement throughout my freshman season. It meant a lot to be reassured by another runner who had never run XC until college,” remembers Cynthia.

Cynthia began her LVC career and very first 5K by finishing a stellar 5th place in 19:42 at the 2010 Dutchmen Invite, LVC's second runner across the line.After a few more strong races, Cynthia unfortunately suffered a high-ankle sprain which derailed the remainder of her fall campaign.While she was still critical to the team’s success, she was not running at 100%.The optimism that can come along with excelling at something new quickly turned into self-imposed disappointment.She needed a break to heal and regroup, both mentally and physically.

Reinvigorated with a healthy ankle and a chance to prove herself on the track, a more comfortable realm for her, Cynthia had arguably one of the best seasons for a freshman in all of Division 3 athletics during the track & field season.She is already four-time conference champion (indoor 800, outdoor 800, outdoor 1500, & outdoor 4x8 relay), a three-time ECAC Medalist (indoor 1000, indoor distance medley relay, & outdoor 400), the only freshman in the nation to qualify in the women’s 800 to the NCAA Championships, and lastly, a USATF Junior Nationals qualifier, held in Eugene, Oregon last spring.She ran the 10th fastest time of the year, notching a 2:11.30 at the Swarthmore Last Chance Meet.

“Track season was definitely a learning experience but I got to compete against some very talented athletes in a variety of racing situations. After only running one season a year in high school, I was surprised by how much my times dropped with only one full year of running and Coach O'Brien's coaching expertise."

Although a highly accomplished runner already, Cynthia’s training age is rather young and she looks to remain healthy and continue to improve.With a full year under her belt she now has a better understanding of what is to come and has prepared well for this fall.Below she talks about her goals for the upcoming season.

“My goals for cross country are simply to improve as a runner and begin to understand how to race at a longer distance. Hopefully by working hard I can compete well within the conference. This year I am more adjusted to demands of the cross country season and so far this preseason has been much less exhausting than last year's. I'm excited to see what this year holds in running both in cross country and on the track. The team has looked very strong throughout preseason so hopefully that will translate into a very successful fall.”

Please be sure to catch Cynthia and the rest of the Flying Dutchmen at their home invitational on Saturday, September 10th at Union Canal Tunnel Park, a brand new course for this fall.More information can be found at GoDutchmen.com.

The men's & women's cross country team took a break from running this past Friday to spend a relaxing evening at Coach O'Brien's house in Lebanon. The ladies decided to get dressed up as you can see above. Kelly O'Brien provided the good food and the team spent some time relaxing together; playing ping pong, chatting and making smores around a fire. Assuming Coach O'Brien's house still stands after Irene the team can anticipate another evening like this later in the year!

After a tremendous freshman campaign, rising junior Alex Talarico struggled a bit during his sophomore campaign. With that behind him, Alex looks to improve on his PRs across the board, especially aiming to make an impact on our relays this winter and spring.

1) What made
you come to Lebanon Valley College? Where did you come from and how did
you hear about our institution?

I actually found out about LVC through a mailing I received
from the school. After one visit to LVC, I had a gut feeling that this was the
place for me. Being from a small town, LVC felt like home. The community
atmosphere and personal attention I receive at LVC make it special to me, and I
couldn’t think of another place I’d rather be.

2)What is your major and why did you choose it?

I am a Biology/Pre-Med major at LVC. The field of medicine
has always been a great interest to me, and I have a strong desire to interact
with people and help others. I don’t think I could ever sit behind a desk all
day, so I think a career in medicine would be a great fit for me.

3) What do you
plan on doing upon graduation with your degree?

After graduation, I hope to enroll in a physician assistant
program in the area or possibly attend medical school. I am not 100% sure what
I want to do, but I know I want to do something medical.

4)What is your favorite part about being a
member of the LVC cross country program?

My favorite part of LVCXC is the people. My fellow teammates
and coaches are like my family at LVC, and I love spending time with them and
motivating them before our meets. We hang out on the weekends and always have a
good time when we’re together. Through running at LVC, I feel like I have made
some friendships that will last a lifetime.

5)What is your favorite type of workout?
Is there any one particular workout that you can remember that was
challenging but made you a better runner for it?

I don’t really think I have a favorite workout, but I do
have a lot of stories about some challenging workouts we have done through the
years. During track, we always do a tough workout that consists of a 600, 400,
and 2x200s. At first this workout sounded simple, but it ended up being the
hardest workout we did all year. This workout, as well as all the other
workouts we do, have some kind of logic behind it. Whether it is to determine
our level of fitness or improve our finishing kick, Coach always seems to have
a method behind his madness.

6)What are your short term and long term
running-related goals, both team and individual?

This year I hope to return to the level of fitness I
achieved my freshmen year and be able to run with the pack and be competitive.
As a team, I really think we can turn some heads. With some solid runners in
place and some promising freshmen coming in, I feel like we can surprise the conference
and finish in the top 3 this year.

7) What
hobbies, sports or other leisure time activities do you enjoy most?

Other than running, I love to just relax and hang out with
my family and friends. I also love to fish and golf, and I am a big sports fan
overall. I also love going to the Outer Banks during the summer with my family,
and I have been going there for the past 18 years.

8) What is your
favorite type of food?

I don’t think I have a favorite food, but I definitely like
to eat! I’m a big fan of steaks and hot wings, but I also like classic Italian
food like pasta and pizza.

9) What
makes you unique? Do you have any special talents or something else that
you'd like to share that others would find interesting?

I think what makes me unique as a captain is my ability to
communicate with others. I may not be the fastest guy on the course, but I feel
like I can always motivate my team and talk with my teammates if they ever need
guidance about running or just life in general.

10) Why
should a high school junior or senior take a more serious look at LVC?

Although LVC is not a well-known school like Penn State or
Pitt, I believe that the education and experiences you receive here are
incomparable. At LVC, you make friends so easily, and I feel like you can never
get “lost in the crowd”. Whether it is a professor or another student, you
always have someone watching out for you. The faculty and staff here really do
care about the students, which shows all throughout campus.

Academically, I believe LVC students can compete with the
best and the brightest out there. The small class sizes allow you to get know
your professors, and there are so many opportunities for you to work with them
one-on-one, which doesn’t always happen at a big school. Overall, I feel like
LVC is the perfect place for anyone who wants to compete in athletics yet focus
primarily on school. My coaches and teammates have helped me develop as a
runner and a student, and they really have become my second family.

Rising Junior (SO-Eligibility) Kristin Shoop made a huge impact in her debut season last fall, finishing as LVC's #3 runner throughout the season and claiming an 11th Place individual finish at the MAC Championships for 2nd Team All-MAC (one spot out from 1st Team). Kristin ran a 23:36 PR for 6K in her first season and is the top returner for the Flying Dutchmen this fall.

1)
What made you come to Lebanon Valley College? Where did you come from and
how did you hear about our institution?

The PT program is what
got me interested in coming to LVC.I am from a small town called Milton in Central PA.I heard about the PT program from my
high school guidance counselor, and after only one visit, I knew this was the
place I wanted to go to.

2) What is your major and why did you choose
it?

I am a physical therapy major and psychology
minor.After my experience
of receiving PT as a young child, I thought that I wanted to help people and
work in a similar facility.After
observing at the local PT pediatric clinic in town, I knew I wanted to work with
kids and treat them through PT.

3) What do you plan on doing upon graduation
with your degree?

After graduation, I would like to work in a
pediatric hospital or outpatient setting.

4) What is your favorite part about being a
member of the LVC cross country program?

My favorite part of being a member of the LVC XC
program would be the family-like bond we all share.The whole team is like a big group of brothers and sisters
where everyone works together and helps each other out.

5) What is your favorite type of workout? Is
there any one particular workout that you can remember that was challenging but
made you a better runner for it?

My favorite workouts would be the Quittie Park
Runs because it is a cool and relaxing place to run with the team and is always
an adventure.The track and hills
workouts were always a challenge for me.However, they really helped me to improve my speed and my final push in
the end of the races.

6) What are your short term and long-term
running-related goals, both team and individual?

This year, I would like to see our team beat
Messiah again at MACs for the second year in a row .Also, I would like to improve upon my PRs I set last season
as well as complete a season with no injuries :)

7) What hobbies, sports or other leisure time
activities do you enjoy most?

Ienjoy spending a lot of time with my family
and friends in my spare time.I
also enjoy waterskiing during the summer and taking pictures.

8) What is your favorite type of food?

My favorite foods are Chinese and seafood.I also have a major sweet tooth for
anything chocolate :)

9) What makes you unique? Do you have
any special talents or something else that you'd like to share that others
would find interesting?

Some things that people don't know about me are
that I am left-handed, I've been in ballet for 13 years, and I have water-skied
since I was 7.Also, I have
traveled to New Zealand for 4 months, but I guess that's not too unique since
the other captains have done so also. :)

10) Why should a high school junior or senior
take a more serious look at LVC?

A high school junior or senior should take a
serious look at LVC because it's a small private school where students are
provided with a lot of one on one attention in and out of the classroom.Also, it has a wide variety of majors,
clubs, and activities to satisfy almost every person's interest.

Junior Pat Tierney will enter his first season as a captain this fall, coming off of a very successful campaign during the 2010-2011 school year. Pat began developing as steeplechaser this past spring and also ran a 43 second PR in the 5000 as well.

1) What made you come to Lebanon Valley College?Where did you come from and how did you hear
about our institution?

I am from Mechanicsburg,
Pennsylvania, and I went to Cedar Cliff High School.I first heard about LVC when I came here for
an indoor track meet when I was a freshman in high school.I remember specifically being surprised at
how nice the sports center was and I was also pleased with the campus.

A year later, my sister
transferred to LVC and loved every minute of it.When I was looking for schools, I wanted
something close, small, and I was hoping to continue my running career.When I came to visit, I felt like it was the
right place for me and I knew I could definitely spend the next 4 years
here.

2) What is your major and why did you choose it?

I am a Business Administration
major here at LVC.Although I wasn’t
exactly sure what I wanted to do when I was older, I knew that the business
field was versatile, practical, and would allow me to have options in the
future.

3) What do you plan on doing upon graduation with your degree?

At this point, I hope to continue my education
and eventually get a master’s degree.If
this is not an option immediately after LVC, I would like to get a job in the
central Pennsylvania area and continue to build my resume.

4) What is your favorite part about being a member of the LVC cross
country program?

My favorite part about being on the LVC cross
country team is the friendships I have made.This team has a great family-feel and everybody genuinely enjoys helping
the team and competing at a high level.

5) What is your favorite type of workout?Is there any one particular workout that you
can remember that was challenging but made you a better runner for it?

Typically, my favorite type of workout is off
the track and preferably on a trail of some sort.I usually tend to enjoy longer threshold
workouts.

One of my favorite workouts was
just this past cross country season. Around the middle of the season, we took a
trip out to Mt. Gretna to do a workout on the rail trail.The long distance guys did a 2 by 5 mile
tempo run.We went out 5 miles and had a
10 minute rest, then ran back 5 miles all at a very solid pace.This workout was very difficult and
definitely very hard on the body.It was
one of those workouts where I looked back and felt accomplished because it was
one of the longest and toughest workouts I have ever completed.

6) What are your short term and long term running-related goals, both
team and individual

At this point in my running
career, I hope to continue to get better as a runner.This season, I want to break 28:15 and
hopefully get into the top 45 at MAC’s.My goal as a captain is to lead this team to success on and off the
course.This team will definitely turn
some heads this year.

7) What hobbies, sports or other leisure time activities do you enjoy
most?

On my free time I like to watch
and play sports, hang out with my friends, and listen to music.I golf, mountain bike, and play tennis,
basketball, and ping pong as much as I can.My friends are a big part of my life. Typically we just hang out and
watch sports together.I am always up
for trying new things.

8) What is your favorite type of food?

I am a huge fan of desserts and especially
chocolate desserts.I have the worst
sweet tooth which is a blessing and a curse.If you don’t know me you will quickly learn that I need to have my
chocolate fix a few times a day.

9)What makes you unique?Do you have any special talents or something
else that you'd like to share that others would find interesting?

I feel like I am unique in many ways.I try my hardest to live my life to the
fullest every day.My Grandpa was always
smiling and was known for being a family man who cared for everyone and lived
his life the right way.So if I can be a
quarter of the man my Grandpa was I feel like I have succeeded in life.

Someday I would really like to be
a reality T.V. star.So when I graduate
I will probably try to be on an MTV show of some kind.

10)Why should a high school
junior or senior take a more serious look at LVC?

Any high school student should look seriously
at LVC because it has a lot to offer.LVC takes pride in a high level of academics with a very well respected
athletic program.If you want to get a
great education while competing in a sport and make great friends, then LVC
would be the choice for you.

Rising Junior Victoria Broderick serves as the quiet leader of the women's team. Suffering a stress fracture at the end of her freshman year due to an untied shoelace during a race, Victoria had to take some time off to heal properly. She worked incredibly hard and was able to PR by 19 seconds during her sophomore campaign. With healthy and uniterrupted training, we are expecting great things from her this fall!

1) What made you come to Lebanon Valley College? Where did you come from and how did you hear about our institution?

I first heard about LVC from a coworker of my mom's. She highly recommended it and said I should consider a campus visit, so I did. I actually had a tough time at first deciding between LVC and another school, but once I was accepted into the PT program and I knew they had a varsity cross country team I was sold. I'm from Ellicott City, MD, which is only about half an hour from Baltimore.

2) What is your major and why did you choose it?

I'm a physical therapy major. I chose it because I really like to help people and see progression, especially for those who may not have been able to walk at one time, but then can.

3) What do you plan on doing upon graduation with your degree?

I plan on working in a rehabilitation office for physical therapy or a hospital. Ideally I'd love to be able to open my own practice in New Zealand and work there as a physio, but we'll see.

4) What is your favorite part about being a member of the LVC cross country program?

The people on the cross country team are definitely the kindest ones out of all the other sports teams. Plus long distance running can be very soothing at times and leaves you with a great sense of accomplishment.

5) What is your favorite type of workout? Is there any one particular workout that you can remember that was challenging but made you a better runner for it?

I like fartlek workouts, but not on the track! One workout we did last season where the team was split into two different groups, some did a shorter distance in the park, but then I and some others did the longer distance. The trees were marked with green tape, which we couldn't see very well, but then had to turn around at one point and run back to where we started. It was quite challenging, but definitely made us better!

6) What are your short term and long term running-related goals, both team and individual?

For the team, I hope that in the short term we can all get to know each other really well and have fun. Long term, I hope we as a team can perform well at MACs. My short individual goal is to make it through the next season without any injuries. Long term I'd like to one day run at least a half marathon if not a full one.

7) What hobbies, sports or other leisure time activities do you enjoy most?Photography, traveling, and playing the violin.8) What is your favorite type of food?

Seafood, BBQ, hummus, fruit, and salad.

9) What makes you unique? Do you have any special talents or something else that you'd like to share that others would find interesting?

I work at the Maryland Science Center during the summer and breaks. Come visit! Also, I just got back from studying in New Zealand last semester!

10) Why should a high school junior or senior take a more serious look at LVC?

A high school junior or senior should take a more serious at LVC because not only is the campus beautiful, the food good, the teachers and coaches wonderful, but also the people there are very kind.

Rising senior Nick D'Angelo has been an incredibly impactful runner for LVC over his past three years. Boasting great versatility, Nick has run a 27:05 for 8K during XC and 4:12, 9:05 and 15:51 for 1500, 3000 & 5000 respectively during the track season. Nick will look to make his first top 20 appearance at the MAC Championships this fall, coming very close during his sophomore campaign with a 24th place finish.

1) What made you come to Lebanon Valley College? Where did you come from and how did you hear about our institution?

I went to Liberty High School in
Bethlehem, PA. My first experience with LVC was in the summer going into
my junior year in high school, when I attended the annual music camp.

I applied to several different
institutions for piano performance because I was passionate about getting into
the field of music industry. The only problem was, I heard time and time
again that it would have been very difficult for me to pick up a second major
in business, much less compete collegiately, at these institutions.

However, I attended the accepted
students day at LVC and got a completely different vibe. I was told that
competing and taking additional coursework towards minors and second majors was
common for students at LVC. Within that 5-minute conversation with my potential
advisor, I knew this was where I was going.

2) What is your major and why did you choose it?

I came to LVC primarily as a Music
Business major. This unique degree allowed me to continue my studies in
piano performance while also taking business classes. I added Digital
Communications as a second degree after taking an introductory course as an
elective, and now it has become my second major. I have always been into
interactive and graphic design, and there has been a lot of overlap with my
music business degree as far as marketing, graphical arts, and even game
development.

3) What do you plan on doing upon graduation with your degree?

During the spring semester of my
junior year, I created a business plan for a music industry-oriented social
gaming company. I am going to see this plan put into action after
college, but also get into . After a few years, I would like to go back
to school for a masters degree, and possibly teach/ coach distance running in
college.

4) What is your favorite part about being a member of the LVC cross country program?

Each of us has progressed and
competed to build this program into what it is today. We have come
together over the past few years as a team, both on the men's and women's side.
Whats great about it is seeing you and your teamates make gains and
endure through the losses, and being able to relate to it all because we are in
the same competition working towards the same goals.

5)
What is your favorite type of workout? Is there any one particular
workout that you can remember that was challenging but made you a better
runner for it?

The 2 mile 1 mile is one of my
favorites because of the inner team competition, but in all honesty my best and
most challenging workout was the 8 x 1000 @ race pace. I remember running
it on Lehigh's 8k course at night by myself. It was one of those workouts
where you get to really gauge your fitness, and test your endurance. You start
to tell yourself, "I've come a long way since the begining of the
season. I can do this."

6) What are your short term and long term running-related goals, both team and individual?

Individually, I am aiming for a
top 20 spot at MACs this season. My long term goals are to continue
competing in open races after college, and hopefully see myself as a sub 26
minute 8k/ low 15's 5k guy by the end of my running career. As a team I
would like to see us have a bigger pack during our races. We have some pretty
good depth this year and I believe we can be a big threat if we bring it
together on the course.

7) What hobbies, sports or other leisure time activities do you enjoy most?

Skiing and going to the beach are
among my favorite things to do outside of running. If I had to pick
another sport outside of distance running, I would probably get into swimming
(if I could only get used to keeping my head under water...). I also
spend free time learning to play pop songs on the keyboards, and learning classical
piano pieces. This final one is unusual, but I'm getting into martial
arts, particularly with swordfighting. It was something me and my cousin
did one weekend just to see what it would be like (after watching movies like
"Last Samarai" and "300") but I developed a taste for it,
and have been into it ever since.

8) What is your favorite type of food?

Mint CC/ Cookies and Cream Ice
Cream, the ultimate post-race desert.

9) What makes you unique? Do you have any special talents or something else that you'd like to share that others would find interesting?

Being an athlete and a musician.
One of my greatest traits is that I like making a positive impact in other
people's lives. I put in the mileage and perform to the best of my ability as
an athlete not just for myself, but because I know my actions can inspire
others to do thier best as well. This also carries over to my musicianship. I
enjoy learning new pieces on piano, and figuring out how to play the latest
music, not just because I enjoy it, but so my friends and family can listen and
enjoy it as well. I live in the moment, and try things
that I have never done before.

I love experiencing new things with
others and being able to know what its like, so I can be more open and relate
to others who have had similar experiences, or made them a major part of thier
life. All my life I have been proving myself against the odds, which has
been a major aspect of who I am since the day I was born. I was initially
not accepted into the music program here at LVC because I failed the singing
portion of the audition. I was already accepted into the four other
colleges I applied for, but I felt my college search would not be complete
without being accepted into all the music programs I applied for. So I
took up vocal lessons and scheduled another time to re-audition instead of
letting it go. Without that mentality, I wouldn't have recieved an
acceptance letter to LVC in April, would've never came to LVC, and wouldn't be
writing on this blog today.

10) Why should a high school junior or senior take a more serious look at LVC?

The opportunities this college
has to offer both academically and athletically are the reasons I initially
came here. The liberal education side of it gives students an opportunity
to take classes in areas outside of thier respective degrees, and its not
unusual for students to double major or pick up one or two minors.
Another major aspect of LVC is the people. Class sizes are small,
so students have plenty of opportunities to get extra help from thier
professors outside of the classroom. By this point I have come to know
the majority of faces and people that make up this college. You are a
name to everyone here, not a number, and I think thats pretty important as
well.

Rising senior Tiff Frederick has been more of a track specialist during her time at LVC but has always found her way onto LVC's Top 7 during XC by the season's end. Tiff had breakout year this past spring; as she led off for our 4x8 relay that won gold at the MAC Championships, individually placed 4th in the open 400, and ran a leg on the silver medal team in the 4x4. Whew, what a weekend! Later in the season, Tiff ran the 4th fastest time in school history in the 800 (2:18.75) to individually qualify for the ECAC Championships but opted to compete in the 4x4 relay there instead and they set a school record. She will look to carry this forward momentum onto the course this fall!

1) What made you come to Lebanon Valley College? Where did you come from and
how did you hear about our institution?

I
come from the wonderful city of Sunbury, Pennsylvania and graduated from
Shikellamy high school. My uncle Rory played football for LVC and my mom
really enjoyed the campus when the family came to watch his games, so she
encouraged me to at least take a look at the school. LVC had everything I
wanted in a school: small class sizes, a strong biology program, and division
III track; however, I didn’t really fall in love with LVC until I was on my
tour. I had a wonderful tour guide and I just got a good feeling from the
school.

2)
What is your major and why did you choose it?

My major
is biology and I chose it because I had a few amazing biology teachers in high
school who really sparked my interest in the subject. It’s such a
diverse and fascinating field that I knew I would stay interested. Also,
I wasn't sure exactly what I wanted to do as far as a career, but I
knew bio would give me a lot of different options and directions that I
could go in after graduation and still be very likely to find a job.

3)
What do you plan on doing upon graduation with your degree?

I
plan on attending graduate school to become a nurse practitioner; I'm
hoping to specialize in acute-care pediatrics.

4)
What is your favorite part about being a member of the LVC cross country
program?

I
really love the atmosphere of the entire program. There is so much
support and team spirit within these two teams it’s fantastic. I’ve never
been a part of a program where the athletes are so friendly and helpful towards
one another. I have made some of my closest friends through this program
and I doubt that my college experience would have been nearly as enjoyable
without cross country. There is a wonderful partnership between the
coaches and athletes that really makes this program a success and an enjoyable
experience for all.

5)
What is your favorite type of workout? Is there any one particular
workout that you can remember that was challenging but made you a better runner
for it?

I
really enjoy shorter, faster track workouts. I'll admit I'm not an
overly strong cross country athlete so I feel much
more comfortable doing track work than longer runs. But if I had to
choose a workout more cross country oriented then I would probably say hill
repeats are my favorite. I would say the 6-4-2-2 workout from this past
season was a rather tough one, especially while trying to keep up with Cynthia.

6)
What are your short term and long term running-related goals, both team and
individual?

Well,
let’s start with team goals. Short term I would really love the team to
be ranked regionally again this season and have another top-two finish at
MACs. I think a good goal for the team in the long term would be to
eventually win MACs and place high enough at regionals to make it to nationals
as a team. I think we have a very talented group of young runners
who can easily make this goal a reality. Individually in the short term I
would just like to be a top five finisher for the team and help score some
points. As for the long term I would really like to provisionally qualify
for nationals for track and maybe one day (in the very long term) run a
marathon.

7)
What hobbies, sports or other leisure time activities do you enjoy most?

I
really enjoy playing soccer on the occasion I still get the chance to.
Watching football is one of my favorite Sunday afternoon activities as
well. I used to play the piano quite a bit when I was younger and would
really love to pick that back up again once I have a little more time in my
schedule.

8)
What is your favorite type of food?

This
is a tough one I love food so much, but if I had to choose I would say either
sushi or Italian would be my favorite type. They are both delicious, but
in completely different ways.

9)
What makes you unique? Do you have any special talents or something
else that you'd like to share that others would find interesting?

Well,
standing at an impressive 4'10" and 3/4 I'm a mere 3/4 of an inch
above being a legal midget. Another fun fact is that I'm half
blind. So if you're ever in need of a half blind almost-midget, I'm
your girl.

10)
Why should a high school junior or senior take a more serious look at
LVC?

They
should take a more serious look because LVC really cares. The coaches
care that you succeed in both athletics and academics. Your teammates
have your back and want to make sure that you're performing your best.
Even the professors really care and most follow the sports teams and will congratulate
you on your successes and help you work around your games and meets. You
will be sure to make friendships, connections, and memories that will last a
lifetime.

Three-time captain, two-time 2nd team All-MAC performer (16th in 2008 and 15th in 2009), and one-time LVCXC Most Valuable Player (2008); Brad will continue to be the leader both on and off the course for the team this year.Over the past three seasons, he has been the most consistent performer on the team, boasting a personal best last season of 26:45 for 8K at the Brooks Paul Short Run.Brad has been instrumental in building up the team around him throughout his career and, with a great supporting cast in 2010, looks to lead the team to new heights in his senior year.

Alex Talarico

Rising sophomore Alex Talarico had a very solid first year campaign, posting strong personal bests of 28:54 for 8K during cross country and 4:15.5 for 1500 during the track season.Not one to necessarily demand the spotlight, Alex has the strong ability to bring people together and will look to do so in an official capacity during his first season as a captain.

Jenn Cronin

NCAA qualifier, defending NCAA Mideast-Regional Runner of the Year, and two-time MAC bronze medalist, Jenn Cronin returns for her senior campaign as the most decorated female distance runner in school history.Posting a strong personal best of 21:39 for 6K, and holding 7 current school records for track and field (with a study-abroad semester during the spring of her junior year), she returns as one of the strongest runners in the region and looks to turns things up a notch for her senior campaign.Jenn leads a young but very formidable team looking to make its mark in 2010.

Megan Long

In just her first season running cross country, Megan Long finished with 1st-Team All-MAC honors and four top ten finishes during regular season invitationals.Megan is also one of the most decorated female distance runners in school history, with her name splashed all over the Top-10 Record Book for track & field (and she has to get the record for the most 2nd places!).With a year of experience under her belt, she looks to provide one of the strongest 1-2 punches around along with Jenn, and should be a contender on the regional level as well.

After competing in and winning 3 out of the 4 Xterra Trail Run - Long Island Series events, assistant coach Chris Bauer has been invited to compete in the Xterra Trail Run National Championship in Bend, Oregon on Saturday, September 18th.Chris will be competing in the 21km race (13.05 miles) in a locale that has been deemed “America’s Best Trail Running Town” by Outside Magazine.

To get the invitation, Coach Bauer competed in the Xterra Stillwater Trail Run 1, Xterra Bethpage Trail Run & the Xterra Stillwater Trail Run 2, garnering overall victories in each of the competitions.Although he will be missing the Dickinson Invitational that the LVC cross country teams will be participating in, he will be representing the Dutchmen well on the other side of the country.We wish him luck and are expecting nothing less then a national championship ring upon his return!

Bauer was a four-year letter winner in cross country and specialized in long sprints and hurdles in track & field during his time as a student-athlete at LVC.Entering his second season as an assistant coach with the cross country programs, he coordinates the strength and conditioning aspects of the program as well as other duties. His transition to distance running post-collegiately has been quite impressive and his addition as a coach in 2009 has provided a huge boost to program.

The new warm / practice shirts are in for the 2010 season. This year we decided to go with a sleek black color to compliment the women's tights and men's run pants. The photos are of the women's shirt but the men's is the same design just cut slightly different. The 2010 squad will wear these as part of their warmup for every invitational as well as around campus!

I am actually all finished with my classes and everything, but am traveling for a little while longer. I just got back from Portugal last night and it was without a doubt one of the most beautiful places that I have ever been to. One morning I went out for my run and I found a path that went right along the ocean. It had just gotten done raining a few minutes before I started my run, so about 20 minutes into it I saw a rainbow. It was super awesome. The rainbow looked like it was going right into the water. I really enjoyed my semester abroad, despite not liking everything about the city where my university is, the experience itself was amazing. I got to travel to so many cool places.

During my spring break I went to Florence, Berlin and Dublin. Florence was beautiful, but very pricey. I met a lot of students from the United States, one actually went to Millersville and another went to F&M, so that was pretty sweet. I got to see Brad while I was in Berlin, which was awesome. I was only in Berlin for like a day ad a half, so hopefully one day I will be able to go back and visit again, because I really enjoyed my time there. I even ate a bratwurst!! Then my last stop was in Dublin, which was my favorite place out of the trip, I didn’t want to come back to Spain.I traveled with Jordan Nendza, who is a soccer player at LVC and Martita Bowersox, who is a field hockey player. We had such a great time. I took off from running for the 10 days that I traveled, and had all intentions to begin running again, when I got back to Spain, but unfortunately I got sick. I had a fever and a cold, so I had to take off some more time. But once I got healthy I started running again and I have hit 50 miles plus in the past two weeks.

I am really looking forward to going home and running. I am leaving for Paris on Thursday and then will finally come back home on Monday. For the 17 weeks that I have been out of the US I will have averaged about 42 miles per week, so I was pretty happy with that. I am excited for the upcoming XC season as well. For anyone who has the opportunity to either study abroad to Europe or to travel to Europe I highly recommend going to Ireland and Portugal. Those were my two favorite countries that I visited. In Spain I would suggest Barcelona and Toledo. Chris, my boyfriend came to visit in March and we went to Toledo. It was really pretty and had some awesome trails to run.

But I hope that everyone is doing well, good luck on finals and I will see everyone when I get back!! =)

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